2 y.o. time to neuter?

[CowboyBebop]

Castle, our Bullmastiff, is now 2. I'm wondering if I should go ahead with the neutering. He has grown into a handsome dog and really filled out this past year. I'm 90% certain that he is done growing and filling out. His weight hasn't changed in about 8 months.

I was particularly wondering about behavior and how neutering at 2 years old will affect him. He is a wonderful dog and joy to be around. He has a slight to moderate guard disposition but is 100% socialable with dogs and people. He mostly keys off of our response to people, weary when we are, inviting when we are anything else. He is INCREDIBLY scent driven, almost to the point of being a nuisance; will this lessen at all after fixing? Also, he is an incessant "marker" when he goes outside to the bathroom, but he still behaves very well when we are on actual walks, will that change or lessen at all after neutering?

I don't want his guarding instinct to lessen. It isn't what I call very strong right now. I would like his scent drive to lessen and his marking to subside somewhat. I realize that these last two things will never cease altogether but a 20% to 30% decrease would be wonderful! Does anyone have any experience with neutering the dogs at a later age? If so, how did your mastiff change, or did he change? Are my expectations realistic? Or would you just recommend a vasectomy?

 

[ruthcatrin]

Marking MAY decrease, but only may. I know quite a few early neutered dogs who still mark.

I would not expect his scent drive to change. Maybe you ought to consider actual scent work with him, to give him a focus for it?

Temperment wise I would not expect any signifigant changes. Nothing you're describing is usually hormone driven.

A vasectomey would give you the extra assurance that he can't father pups, without any other changes being likely. I'm told how ever that it can be hard to find a vet to do one (I've never looked myself).

 

[CowboyBebop]

Thanks ruth!

 

[Jadotha]

Are there specific reasons you want to neuter ?

 

[CowboyBebop]

I would prefer to eliminate the risk of him fathering puppies (as small as it might be). I was hoping that neutering might curb some of his behavioral issues, mainly scent drive and marking. Other than that there is really no reason to get him neutered as opposed to a vasectomy other than he might still try to run off if he were to "catch wind" of a female in heat. But he has yet to actually bolt, although his scenting goes through the roof if he does catch wind of a female in heat.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Even neutered males will chase off after a bitch in heat unfortunetly. No, not ALL neutered males, but some. I've even known cases where a neutered male has tied with the bitch! No puppies yes, but that didn't stop him any!

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

I would prefer to eliminate the risk of him fathering puppies (as small as it might be). I was hoping that neutering might curb some of his behavioral issues, mainly scent drive and marking. Other than that there is really no reason to get him neutered as opposed to a vasectomy other than he might still try to run off if he were to "catch wind" of a female in heat. But he has yet to actually bolt, although his scenting goes through the roof if he does catch wind of a female in heat.

Just to understand neutering doesn't "fix" behavior issues.

 

[CowboyBebop]

I understand that a dog is going to sniff and most will continue to mark once they have started. I was just wondering if the intensity/frequency might lessen if he was neutered. Form what I gathered its uncertain at best. A large part of his scent drive is finding that one spot to pee. When he runs across something that he likes he grows roots immediately and it would be easier to move a 300 pound rock. If he really likes the scent he drools like a steak has been dangled in front of him. He'll even go so far as to lick the ground when he is really into a scent! This behavior only happens on potty breaks. If we're walking or otherwise working he is a great dog. So Duetsche, I agree with 85% of your statement but I would tend to think that certain behaviors fueled by sex hormones would lessen somewhat in the absence/reduction of those hormones. It’s true for other mammals why wouldn't it be true for dogs as well? I understand that they are unlikely to disappear altogether and that even after having him neutered that we would have to work with him for him to relearn some of his potty break behavior. The question was more geared towards drives than behaviors. I guess that did not come across very well. Also, my fear of him running off is negligible; he isn’t out of the house unsupervised off-leash, EVER! Too many people would swipe him! He’s that friendly and good-looking, lol!

 

[ruthcatrin]

The problem is determining which is driven by hormones and which isn't, and frequently its not obvious. So yah, like I said, it MIGHT, but it might not. But it sounds like you got that!